The McDuffie Award for Diversity in Comics was established last year to recognize comics work that promotes the spirit of diversity. (I was honored to be on the inaugural judging panel.) Submissions for the 2016 award are open until December 31st. The winner will be announced at the Long Beach Comic Con on February 20, 2016 to “an American comics work, published in print or digitally in 2015, deemed by the Selection Committee to promote diversity. In the spirit of Dwayne McDuffie, “promoting diversity” can be judged as either broadening the range of characters portrayed in comics, or adding to the variety of creators contributing to the medium.” McDuffie is the late creator of Static Shock and many other comics and a figure of great inspiration and admiration to those who knew him.

Heidi MacDonald is the founder and editor in chief of The Beat. In the past, she worked for Disney, DC Comics, Fox and Publishers Weekly. She can be heard regularly on the More To Come Podcast. She likes coffee, cats and noble struggle.